Wilson Chandler and the Knicks continued to play stifling defense in their loss to the 76ers. NBAE/Getty Images

With the regular season just two weeks away, the Knicks already looked be in midseason condition as they played swarming defense for the second straight game. The only thing missing in Tuesday night’s 93-85 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden was that high-powered offense we saw last season.   

“We’re doing better at communicating on defense and guys are stepping up on defense a little bit better than last year,” said forward David Lee, who had eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds. “It’s not where it needs to be, but we’re holding teams to under 100 points. Our shooting will pick up as time goes on and we’ll win some games.”   

After getting off to a slow start, the Knicks received a major boost from a group of reserves that included rookies Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas and Darko Milicic, who was traded to the team in June. They helped New York take its first lead of the game early in the second quarter and set a positive tone for the remainder of the game.   

Douglas and Milicic, who have impressed their new coach with their defense since training camp opened earlier this month, played a big role in New York’s defensive success once again as they made their Garden debuts in the blue and orange. Douglas had a steal as he showcased his solid perimeter defense to the home crowd. Milicic had a steal and a block.   

The Knicks recorded a total of 12 steals (nine in the first half), seven blocks and forced the Sixers into 28 turnovers.     

“I was happy with our defense,” said head coach Mike D’Antoni, who watched his team hold the Celtics to 96 points last Friday. “I thought we played well in spurts. There was a long period where we let down a bit, but we just have to make extra shots and we haven’t done it.”   

The defense was clearly what kept the Knicks in the game, which is a big contrast from last season. The fast-paced offensive attack that made the Knicks one of the most exciting teams to watch in the league in 2008-09 was limited with 30.9 percent from the field, including 7-for-41 shooting from beyond the arc.   

The Knicks, however, aren’t too concerned just yet.   

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Lee said. “I’m not worried about us hitting shots. I’m more worried about us playing defense.”   

Added D’Antoni: “We just need to let it go, especially now. I think it’s a period when sometimes it’s contagious. We just need to relax and play, and we will. I’m just really happy with the defense. I just think that we’re much better this year defensively and that will carry us in the long run.”   

Despite misfiring from the field, the Knicks still played hard throughout the night and looked well rested, which is what D’Antoni had hoped for when he changed the team’s gameday itinerary for home games.   

D’Antoni moved shootaround for all home games this season from 10 a.m. at the team’s Westchester training facility to 3:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. The idea behind the decision is to allow the players to get more sleep, eat a healthy meal together and avoid the New York City rush-hour traffic.   

“The medical people think it’s a little bit better that they eat real well at about 3:30 instead of before when it was kind of all over the place,” D’Antoni said. “There’s some good stuff in it and we’re going to try and see if it makes sense especially here in New York where the people have to travel a lot of distances. We’re trying to keep people out of cars and out of traffic.”   

The Knicks typically use shootaround to prepare for that night’s opponent. But early on in the preseason, D’Antoni wants to use the time to get the younger players some extra work on the court before the veterans put up shots of their own before game time. The last couple of exhibition games will serve as more of a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season.